| EPSRC Reference: |
GR/M26756/01 |
| Title: |
PRE-TREATMENT AND ADHESIVE SYSTEMS FOR LIGHTWEIGHT COMPOSITE BODY PANELS |
| Principal Investigator: |
Guild, Professor FJ |
| Other Investigators: |
|
| Researcher Co-Investigators: |
|
| Project Partners: |
|
| Department: |
Mechanical Engineering |
| Organisation: |
University of Bristol |
| Scheme: |
LINK |
| Starts: |
01 October 1998 |
Ends: |
31 December 2001 |
Value (£): |
99,055
|
| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
|
| EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
| Transport Systems and Vehicles |
|
|
| Related Grants: |
|
| Panel History: |
|
|
Summary on Grant Application Form |
|
Efficient use of lightweight materials is an essential feature in the design of the Foresight vehicle. Such materials can be designed to possess sufficient stiffness and strength, and may also have excellent impact resistance. Glass reinforced thermoplastics perform particularly well in impact. However, such thermoplastic materials are inherently difficult to bond owing to their low surface energy. This difficulty may be overcome by a combination of surface treatments and specialist adhesives. In automotive construction, panels constructed of these materials must be joined either to a similar or to a dissimilar material (such as an aluminium space frame). The method of joining must preserve structural integrity, maximise stiffness and not prejudice impact resistance. Mechanical fastening is particularly damaging for composite materials since stress concentrations arising from fasteners can cause premature failure. Adhesive bonding is the most suitable method of joining composite panels, either to each other or to a dissimilar material. The overall objective of this project is the development of adhesive joining techniques for this material.
|
|
Key Findings |
|
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
|
|
Potential use in non-academic contexts |
|
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
|
|
Impacts |
|
| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
|
| Date Materialised |
|
|
|
|
Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
|
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
|
| Project URL: |
|
| Further Information: |
|
| Organisation Website: |
http://www.bris.ac.uk |